Natural gas boom drives Ohio oil, gas well permits up

Since 2009, the number of new conventional oil and natural gas wells around the state has increased slowly, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Last year, about 1,533 new oil and gas well permits were approved, compared to 1,512 in 2010 and 30 fewer permits in 2009. About 460 new oil and natural gas wells were drilled in 42 counties in 2011

These wells extracted more than 73 billion cubic feet of natural gas -- a 6.2 percent decrease from 2010 -- and about 4.85 million barrels of crude oil -- up 1.4 percent from one year prior.

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"Many wells bring up a combination of dry gas, natural gas liquid and crude oil," said Heidi Hetzel-Evans, a spokeswoman for the ODNR. "A lot of them it just may be the amount it brings up is whether it's negligible or marketable."

Hetzel-Evans said the dry gas is used to heat homes and businesses, while the liquid form is used to produce such things as ethane, propane and butane. Crude oil from Ohio is primarily used for motor oils.

"Some landowners, especially in traditional drilling, they are not paid a royalty because they get free gas to heat their homes," Hetzel-Evans said.

Currently, there are 1,110 active oil and gas wells in Geauga County, with the most being in Huntsburg Township (155), Chester Township (149) and Parkman Township (121).

Houston, Texas-based EnerVest and Byesville, Ohio-based David R. Hill, Inc. operate the majority of the oil and gas wells in the county.

There are 412 active oil and gas wells throughout Lake County. Most of these wells are located in Madison, Perry, Leroy, Painesville and Concord townships.

Cuyahoga County has about 414 active oil and gas wells. The majority of them are concentrated in Brecksville, Broadview Heights, North Royalton, Mayfield Heights, Mayfield Village, Gates Mills and Beachwood.

Also, there are 2,191 active oil and gas wells located throughout Ashtabula County.

Meanwhile, the number of shale or horizontal drilling permits are also on the rise.

So far, there are about 180 of these wells throughout the state. Hetzel-Evans expects that number to top 1,000 within the next three years. Last year, the Utica and Point Pleasant shale wells were the first in Ohio.

"We don't expect to see peak activity for several more years," Hetzel-Evans said.

Currently, there is one exploratory shale wells operating in Geauga County.

"In the near future, it's certainly going to increase activity here in the state," she said.